Blocking frame



G. A. KUEHNE BLOCKING FRAME April 2, 1940.

Original Filed June 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GramAKae/zzzc tlttoa-vmApril 2, 1940. e. A. KUEHN-E BLOCKING FRAME Original Filed June 10, 19352 Sheets-Sheet 2 n vv 'V WZI-Wln dawn/4:125."

be zzm iiz a 1d OOOOOOOOOO Patented Apr. 2, 194-0 BLOCKING FRAME ,1.-Grace A. Kuehne, Evanstongllll Application June 10, 1935, Serial No.25,730

Renewed October 27, 1937 15 Claims. (Cl. 223- 69) v I H the frameconstruction disclosing the adjustable i This invention relates to animproved. adjust-- able and collapsible frame for efieqting the shapingor blocking of knitted and other similar fabric garments, the object ofthe invention being to provide a simple, efiicient and practical meansby which various kinds of knitted or crocheted articles of wearingapparel may be accurately shaped or fashioned to conform totheindividual requirements of the different wearers thereof.

' Garments composed of knitted materials require careful treatment whilein a wet or moisture'containing stateso that during drying, they may beheld in fixed positions in order that they will subsequently conform tothe physical re quirements of the wearers thereof and to possess thedesired properties of style, shape and'appearan'ce. Heretofo-re, inblocking knitted gar"- ments, it has been an accepted practice to pinsuch garments while wet on a frame or'board so that following the dryingthereof, they will possess desired configurations. To a limited ex tent.knitted garments have been blocked by the use of drying frames whichhave been inserted into the garments to hold the same in shape dur-' ingthe dryingperiod. Most of thesemethods and devices have been quiteunsatisfactory since theyv do not enable a knitted garment to be exactlyblocked toconform with the arm, shoulder', waist andother measurementsof the wearer, and this fact has militated considerably against thewide-spread use of knitted articles 'of wearing apparel. I

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a. blocking frameis provided consisting of a plurality of adjustably connected frame.members having the marginal portions thereof provided with garmentattaching pins, and wherein provision is made for relatively adjustingand maintaining the adjustment of said membersso that a garment appliedto one side thereof may be shaped or blocked and upon drying, it willproperly conform tov the measurements of :the Weareraround the shouldersand neck line, the waist line, the sleeves, hips, and

' to regulate the length of the garment, as well as other essentialmeasures. 1

For a further understanding of the invention,

reference is to be had to the following descriptionand the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a full skirt size blocking frameconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

I Fig. 2 is. anenlarged detail front elevation of elements thereof inthe waist region;

.Fig. 3 is 'a'vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the.line 3'-3 of Fig. 2;

ATENT FFI Fig. dis a transverse. sectional view on the line 5 Fig. 5 isa detail perspective view of the backing plate for adjustablyuniting theelements of the. frame at the waist;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view'disclosing the modifled pin arrangement.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the improved blocking frame is composed primarily of'a plurality ofrelatively adjustable members consisting of elongated strips of wood,metal or composition materials that theywill possess a'fair degree ofrigidity and mechanical strength. "In this instance, the frame comprisesbody bars or upper frame members -l-I which have their outerlongitudinal edges each provided with a row of projecting pins twhichlie substan tially in the same-plane as the body of thebars' or upperframe members. The strips l -'-l may be formed straight, as'showm-or maybe outly to the form of the recumbent human female body. Furthermore,each'of the strips I--I"-"is provided with a centrally disposed row ofclosely of bar sections each approximately the. length of bar l, andadapted-to extend'inwardlysubstantially in the same vertical plane aslower-..

sleevebars 8-8. The' bar 4 has one, preferably its lowerlongitudinaledge'portion, provided with a'row of perpendicularly extending pins5-whichextend at right angles to the'plane'of the bar 4,

and'the latter is additionally provided with a longitudinal row ofadjustment affording openings 6. Headed bolts 1 are adapted topassthrough registered openings 3 and 6 formed in the'b'arsor strips l-'land the bar. or bars,

wardly angularly formed to'conform subStantial- 4 respectively, thethreaded portions of the bolts 45 I being equipped with knurled nuts bywhich the boltsmay be tightened to holdthe bars or upper frame membersl.l and the bar or bars 4 in their various positions of relativeadjustment.

Beneath the shoulder bar 4, or benea'ththe pair 50 of such bars if twoare used, the'bars or upper frame members l-l are adjustably connected Iwith sleeve shaping bars 8. Each of the bars 8 is provided with a row ofoutwardly. and laterally directed pins 9 for garmentattaching purposes55 and which pins extend perpendicularly to the general planes of thebars 8. Also, each of said last-named bars is formed with a row oflongitudinally spaced openings in and headed bolts I I are adapted topass through registering open.-

ings 3 and I9 formed in the bars I and Brespectively so that the lattermay be securely united in fixed positions of relative adjustment whichmay be varied in accordance with the garment to be shaped or blocked. I

The outer portions of the bars 4 and 8 are adjustably united byvertically extendingv sleeve width determining bars I2. Each of thesebars is provided along its outer marginal edge with a row of pins I3which lie in the same plane as the bar I2 by which they are carried.Each of the bars I 2 is further formed with a row of vertically spacedopenings I4, and headed bolts I5 pass through registering openings 6, II] and I4 formed, respectively, in the bars 4, 8 and I2, the inner endsof the bolts I5 being equipped with nuts by which the bolts may betightened in order to hold the bars 4, 8 and I2 in their desiredpositions of relative adjustment, so that the frame may be adapted tothe sleeve measurements of a garment undergoing blocking on the frame.It will be noted that the bars I2 are adjustable longitudinally of thebars 4 and 8 in order to be adapted to the varying length of the garmentsleeves, the pins I3 serving to engage the ends of the sleeves to drawand maintain the latter in a taut condition and in this respect tocooperate with the pins 5 and 9 of the bars 4 and 8 respectively.

,, respectively in the strips I and the bars I6 and of the strips I.

through openings 29 formed in backing plates 2I. The innerthreaded endsof the bolts I9 receive knurled nuts 22 which upon beingtightened holdthe strips I and the bars I6 in their various positions of relativeadjustment. To provide for swinging adjustment of the strips I aboutaxes formed by the bolts I9, each of the plates 2I is providedcontiguous to its upper end with an arcuate slot 23 which is adapted forthe reception of the shank of a threaded bolt 24 carried by each Theinner end of each ofthe bolts 24 is equipped with a knurled nut 25which, upon being tightened, frictionally retains the rocking adjustmentof the strips I.

In my preferred form, adjustably connected with the lower portions ofthe backing plates 2I for swinging movement are the upper ends of a pairof hip bars 25. Each of these bars comprises a row of openings 21 and arow of outturned pins 28 which lie in the same planes as the bars 26.Headed bolts 29 pass through the openings 21 and through a registeringopening 30 formed in each of the plates 21, the inner ends of the bolts29 being equipped with a knurled nut 3I for frictionally retaining theadjustment of the bars 26 relative to the axes of the bolts Thisconstruction enables the frame to be adapted to various waist and hipmeasurements which are so essential in the proper shaping of knittedgarments.

The lower ends of the bars 26 carry on their rear sides fixed plates 32which project below the ends of the bars 26 and constitute fulcrums forthe pivotal reception of the upper ends of skirt bars or lower sideframe members 33. The latter, in preferred form, correspond inconstruction to the. bars 26 and include rows of longitudinally spacedopenings 34 and outwardly directed pins 35 which lie in the same planesas the bars 33.

The length of skirt bars or lower side frame members 33 may also bevaried and extended so that the upper ends may be directly connected tobolts I9 forming pivots for vertically extending bars I-I and 33--33,eliminating the fixed plates 32 and bars 26 particularly shown in Fig.1, thereby providing a cheaper form of construction. Additionally, thebars or frame members 33 elongated as above set forth, may each beshaped angularly outwardly on its outward edge portion to conformsubstantially to the form, of female human hips.

In preferred form, headed bolts 36 pass through the uppermost openings34 and through corresponding openings formed in the plates 32, the innerends of the bolts 36 being provided with knurled nuts which may betightened to retain the bars 33 in various positions of angularadjustment with respect to the bars 26 and bar I6. C0- operative withthe bars 33 is a transversely extending skirt length determining bar 3'1provided with a row of longitudinally spaced openings 38 and downwardlydirected pins 39. Headed bolts 40 pass through registering openings 34and 38 formed in the bars 33 and 31 respectively by which said bars maybe maintained in desired positions of relative adjustment.

By the provision of this flexible and adjustable frame construction, thevarious frame members or bars may be relatively adjusted so that a wideI variety and many different kinds of knitted garments may be shaped orblocked thereon. It is adaptable and adjustable for knitted, crochetedor other similar garments in any size from that of a child to thelargest adult. Perfect measurements are required to properly block agarment at all of the following points: the shoulders and neck line,waist line, hips, length of Waist, length of skirt, total length, lengthof sleeves, width of sleeves at arm opening, width of sleeves at elbowand. wrist. The blocking frame comprising the present invention will dryany such garment to the perfect measurements required at each and all ofthe above points, while at the same time, perfectly shaping the entiregarment. Purling at the bottom of blouses, sweaters, jackets and thelike can also be similarly handled to fit perfectly. In the use of theframe, the adjustable members thereof are set to conform with thedesired measurements a garment shall possess following blocking, and theflexible connections uniting the frame members permit this to be readilydone to assure accurate measurements at the places above noted. Aknitted garment while wet, is then placed on the adjustable frame andsecured by the pins carried by the base or frame members thereof. Thesepins are preferably formed from non-corrodible metals so that they willnot discolor the garments attached thereto. As shown in Fig. 6, the pinsmay be offset or staggered with respect to 'each other for the purposeof avoiding splitting the wood bars in which they are inserted and alsoto facilitate the operation of forcing a garment over the pointed endsof the pins.

It should be obvious from the foregoing detailed description that thelower side bars may be removed entirely or reversed in such a mannerthat a waist or skirt alone may be placed on the frame, or, when thelower side bars are placed to face opposite to the waist portion a skirtmay be placed on the frame on one side thereof and a waist may be placedon the oppositely faced I side.

It should also be obvious from the specification that the framedescribed herein is collapsible and may be stored away in a relativelysmall space.

While I have described the preferred form of the present invention,nevertheless, it will be understood that the same is subject to certainvariation and modification in structural details without departing fromthe scope of the inven tion as the latter has been defined in the following claims, and various changes may be madein the embodiment of theinvention herein specifically described without departing from orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any featuresthereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon theinvention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or anypart thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 4

l. A frame for blocking knitted articles of 1 wearing apparel comprisinga Waist bar, a pair of body bars, adjustable pivotal connections uniting the adjoining portions of said waist and side bars at selectedpositions throughout the length of said Waist bar, each of said barsbeing provided with a row of longitudinally extending, relatively spacedopenings, and including a row of pins projecting laterally from one ofthe longitudinal sides of ,Said bars.

'2. A collapsible frame for blocking knitted j articles comprising awaist bar, an upper set of body bars, a removable set of lowerskirtbars, adjustablepivotal connections uniting. the adjoiningportionsofsaid waist and said body and skirt bars at selected positionsthroughout the length of said waist bar, each of said bars beingprovided with a row of longitudinally extending, relatively spacedopenings, and including a row of pins projecting laterally fromone ofthe longitudinal sides of said bars. I

3. A frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprising awaist bar, upper and lower sets of side bars, adjustable pivot-a1connections uniting the adjoining portions of said waist and side barsat selected positions throughout the length of said waist bar, each ofsaid bars including a row of pins projecting laterally from one of thelongitudinal sides of said bars.

4. A frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprising:a waist bar, upper and lower sets of side bars, adjustable pivotalconnections uniting the adjoining portions of said side and Waist bars,a shoulder bar, adjustable means for securing said shoulder bar to theupper set of said side bars, and garment securing pins carried by eachof said bars.

5. A frame for blocking knitted garments comprising a waist bar, bodybars and hip bars pivotally connected with said waist bar, and skirtbars having their upper ends pivotally connected with said hip bars,each of said bars being provided with a longitudinally extending row ofsecuring pins.

6. A frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprising:a pair of side body bars, each of said bars being provided with a row oflongitudinally aligned openings, a row oftransversely extending garmentsecuring pins on each body bar, a shoulder bar provided with a rowof'longitudinally disposed openings, said shoulder'bar adapted'toover-extend said body bars, garment securing pins on said shoulder bar,and securing means disposed in registering openings provided in the bodyand shoulder bars for maintaining said bars in various positions ofrelative adjustment. I

'7. A frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprisingupper and lower sets of side bars, a waist forming bar, adjustablepivotal connections uniting the adjoining portions of the side and waistbars, each of said bars being formed to include a row of longitudinallyextending openings and laterally projecting garment securing pins, askirt length determining bar including a row of longitudinally extendingspaced openings and laterally'projecting pins and adjustable connectingmeans uniting said skirt length determining bar with the lower set ofside bars,

8. A frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprising apair of body bars,

each of said bars being formed'with a row of passing through registeringopenings formed in the sleeve forming bars and in said body bars. 9.Aframe for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel comprising a pairof body bars,

each of. said bars being formed with a row of longitudinally extending,relatively spaced'openings, and a row of laterally projecting pins, atransversely extending-shoulder bar formed with a row of longitudinallyextending relatively spaced openings and a row of garment securing pins,threaded securing means arranged to pass through registering openingsformed in the shoulder and body, bars for securing said bars in fixedpositions of relative adjustment, sleeve forming bars, each including arow of longitudinally extending openings and a row of garment securingpins, threaded securing means passing through registering openingsformed in the sleeve forming bars and in said :body bars, and adjustableconnecting bars uniting the outer portions of the shoulder and sleeveforming bars, said last-named adjustable bars being each provided with arow of longitudinally extending openings and laterally projecting pins.

10. In a device of the described classv the combination of a. pair ofupper side bars, an upper sleeve bar extending transversely of andadjustably mounted on said upper side bars, a pair of and adjustablymounted thereon, a pair of lower side bars pivotally mounted adjacentthe lower end of said upper side bars, a skirt length determining bar,mounted transversely and adjustably on said lower side bars, a row ofoutwardly extending garment securing pins on each of said barsaforementioned and each of said bars being provided with a plurality oflongitudinally disposed apertures and bolts disposable thereinpermitting relative adjustment of said bars with respect to one anotherto substantially conform to any desired shape of the human body.

11. In a device of the described class a pair of upper side bars, anupper sleeve bar extending laterally from the upper side bars, a pair oflower sleeve bars, one of each extending laterally from each upper sidebar beneath each of said upper sleeve bars, a pair of end bars eachconnecting an upper and lower sleeve bar near the outer extremitythereof, a transversely extending waist bar at the lower terminal ofsaid upper side bars and at the upper terminal of a pair of lower sidebars, a pair of lower side bars, a'skirt length determining barextending transversely of said lower side bars, each of said barsaforementioned being provided with a plurality of longitudinallydisposed holes, and a plurality of bolts extending therethrough at thejunction of any transversely extending bar to permit adjustment of therelative positions thereof and a plurality of outwardly protrudinggarment securing pins arranged in rows on each of said bars to retain agarment thereon, said device being adapted to be dis-assembled andfolded into a compact package.

12. In a device of the described class the combination of a pair oflower side frame members,

said frame members being oppositely mounted in the same general plane, askirt length determiningbar extending transversely of and connectingsaid lower frame members, a waist bar extending transversely of saidframe members near the upper extremity thereof, a pair of upper sideframe members, a pair of lower sleeve bars each extending laterallyoutwardly from an upper side frame member, an upper sleeve bar extendinglaterally outwardly from the upper side frame members, a pair of endbars extending transversely from and adjustably interconnecting theupper and lower sleeve bars, each of said bars aforementioned having arow of outwardly extending garment securing pins thereon adapted tosecure a garment thereon and each bar and frame member being providedwith a plurality of longitudinally disposed bolt holes and bolts passingtherethrough at the juncture of any bar or frame member with another topermit wide relative adjustment thereof to conform to apredetermined-peripheral conformity to the normal outlines of aconventional womans dress.

13. In a frame for blocking knitted articles of wearing apparel, thecombination of a pair of body'bars, shoulder forming bar meansadjustably mounted near one end thereof, sleeve forming bar meansadjustably mounted on said body bars below said shoulder forming barmeans, and a Waist bar adjustably mounted on said body bars near thoseends thereof opposite said shoulder forming bar means, each of said barsbeing provided with a plurality of holes therethrough and bolt meanstherein for adjustment in relation to each other bar aforementioned andeach having garment securing pins along one side thereof, for thepurposes described.

14. A frame as set forth in claim 13 and additionally comprising a pairof connecting bars one of each of said bars being adjustably mountedbetween substantially the ends of the shoulder forming bar means andsaid sleeve forming bars, and each of said connecting bars beingprovided with a plurality of holes therethrough and garment securingpins on each connecting bar.

15. In a frame for blocking a skirt the combination of a pair ofrelatively long side bars, a pair of hip bars pivotally end mounted tosaid side bars, a waist determining bar mounted at the end of said hipbars, and a skirt length determining bar mounted onand extendingtransversely of said side bars, each bar being provided with a pluralityof holes therethrough and each having garment securing pins thereon, andconnection means for adjustably connecting each bar to the other,substantially as set forth.

. GRACE A. KUEHNE.

